Personal Lines

Bills to ease rules for bringing "bad faith" lawsuits in claim disputes have been introduced in a growing number of state legislatures, but so far insurance interests have been winning.

A study of auto crash injury claims has found that in collisions where vehicles had front and side airbag systems, injuries were less severe and claim costs were lower.

Dearborn, Mich.-based insurer Auto Club Insurance Association (ACIA) said it has acquired MEEMIC Insurance Company and its insurance agency affiliate MEEMIC Insurance Services Corp. Terms of the deal were not released, a company spokeswoman said.

With falling top-line revenue due to a deepening recession and a depleting policyholders' surplus capital base, the upcoming price increase cycle is projected to be different from previous periods, according to a survey by a data technology firm.

Even as some insurance industry bonuses draw criticism, Jack Windolf, the chief executive officer of Bollinger Insurance Solutions brokerage, is drawing national acclaim for dishing out $1,000 to all 434 company employees from his own pocket.

A bill introduced in Congress yesterday establishing some federal regulation over the insurance industry has drawn opposition from an insurance agents group while the two major insurers are supporting the move.

Associate Editor Mark Ruquet in an audio commentary considers whether New York's former crusading attorney general caused AIG's meltdown. Click "Podcasts" on NU's new Web site, www.property-casualty.com.

The New York State Insurance Department and the Autoridade Monet?ria de Macau- Macau's insurance regulator - have reached a memorandum of understanding which will allow for closer cooperation between the two regulators.